Safety

"Wall fountains" may be spreading Legionnaires to patients, visitors

Hospital Safety Connection, January 19, 2012

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The calming, soothing modern-style wall fountains found in many hospitals may be getting patients, visitors, and staff sick.

A Milwaukee-area hospital's wall fountain is being blamed for contaminating eight people with the dsiease, none of whom were admitted to the hospital prior to catching it. If the water is contaminated, inhaling droplets could cause infection. 

The report was published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, and researchers noted that regular maintenance and cleaning did not rid the fountain of bacteria, and that hospitals and healthcare settings should not install these types of fountains.

Sources: Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, The Washington Post



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